20 Crorepati Candidates in Fray in Last Phase of LS Polls in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Twenty crorepati candidates are in the fray in the last phase of Lok Sabha polls in Odisha to be held on June 1.

Out of the total 66 candidates contesting in this phase of Lok Sabha polls in Odisha, 30 per cent (20) candidates have assets worth more than Rs 1 crore, stated a report of Odisha Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) based on the self-sworn affidavits of the candidates in six constituencies where voting will be held on June 1.

All the six candidates of the BJD, five nominees of the Congress and one candidate of the JMM (1) have declared assets worth more than Rs 1 crore. Four candidates of the BJP are crorepatis. According to the report, the average of assets per candidate in this phase of elections in Odisha is estimated to be Rs 3.83 crore. The average assets per candidate of BJP is Rs 27,12,63,508, that of BJD is Rs 6,61,41,681 and that of Congress is Rs 2,37,24,343, the report said.

BJP’s Baijayant Panda is the richest candidate with declared assets of more than 148 crore (Rs 1,48,08,78,708). He is followed by Sriram Pandey of Congress with over Rs 18 crore and Manjulata Mandal of BJD with over Rs 14 crore assets.